Most of us know that the first thing to try when something isn’t working right on the computer is to shut it down and restart it. With Windows 8 and 10, however, it’s likely that shutting down windows does not fix the problem or problems. Why is this? Windows doesn’t shut down completely when you use the shutdown feature.
Why Doesn’t Windows Shut Down Completely?
Windows has a Fast Startup feature that is set to default unless you change it. It’s a hybrid of the hibernate and shut down features so that your operating system loads much quicker when you turn the computer on to get busy. This is usually a great feature, however, it becomes an issue when you need a complete shutdown. Shutting down windows does not fix the problem with this feature enabled.
What’s the Difference Between Shutdown with Fast Startup and Traditional Shutdown?
When you shut down your system with the Fast Startup feature enabled, it starts off discarding any open files or programs just like the traditional shutdown. The difference is that this hybrid feature keeps the state of the Windows kernel hibernating on the disk, ready for the next startup, meaning that Windows doesn’t shut down completely.
What if You Need a Complete Shutdown?
Saving the state of the Windows kernel on the disk means that any hiccups in program you’re using won’t have the opportunity to reboot with a fresh start. You can either use the restart feature, or hold down shift while you click the shutdown button. The shift trick works whether you use the shutdown button in your start menu, the start screen or the one under the control-alt-delete screen. So, when shutting down Windows does not fix the problem, try one of these.
For network or technical support for small- to medium-sized businesses, conntact the experts at CCSI.
